U.S. patent number 10,150,387 [Application Number 15/124,201] was granted by the patent office on 2018-12-11 for vehicle seat recliner assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Adient Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l.. The grantee listed for this patent is Johnson Controls Technology Company. Invention is credited to Bruce Hiemstra, Scott Profozich.
United States Patent |
10,150,387 |
Hiemstra , et al. |
December 11, 2018 |
Vehicle seat recliner assembly
Abstract
A mechanism for reclining the seat back of a seat. The seat back
is pivotally connected to the seat base is by a locking fixture
that selectively locks and releases the seat back from the seat
base. A return spring biases the seat back in the upright position
and a handle in the area of the pivot point allows the
operator/occupant to selectively control whether the seat back is
locked or released. The return spring is mounted on an outside of
the seat back and seat base, and is in the form of a coil spring. A
stop element connects the handle to the locking fixture. The stop
element is arranged radially inward of the coil spring. The stop
element preferably has a large diameter portion with lugs
interacting with the locking fixture, and has a smaller diameter
portion arranged radially inward of the coil spring.
Inventors: |
Hiemstra; Bruce (Ann Arbor,
MI), Profozich; Scott (Canton, MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Johnson Controls Technology Company |
Plymouth |
MI |
US |
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Assignee: |
Adient Luxembourg Holding
S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg, LU)
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Family
ID: |
54055832 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/124,201 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 04, 2015 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/US2015/018703 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
September 07, 2016 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2015/134587 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
September 11, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170021743 A1 |
Jan 26, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61949444 |
Mar 7, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/22 (20130101); B60N 2/682 (20130101); B60N
2/235 (20130101); B60N 2205/50 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
2/00 (20060101); B60N 2/68 (20060101); B60N
2/235 (20060101); B60N 2/22 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;297/354.12,367P,367R,366 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10 2008 045349 |
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Mar 2010 |
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DE |
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2011/160771 |
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Dec 2011 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Chi Q
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGlew and Tuttle, P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a United States National Phase Application of
International Application PCT/US2015/018703 filed Mar. 4, 2015 and
claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 and 120
of U.S. Application 61/949,444 filed Mar. 7, 2014, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat base with a base side panel; a
seat back with a seat back side panel; a locking fixture pivotally
connecting said seat back to said seat base, said locking fixture
selectively locking said seat back to said seat base in a plurality
of angular positions; a return spring connected to said seat base
and said seat back, said return spring biasing said seat back in an
angular direction with respect to said seat base, said return
spring being a coil spring and being arranged on an outside of said
base side panel; a handle arranged outward of said return spring
and connected to said locking fixture, said handle forming an
operator interface for an operator to operate said locking fixture
and selectively lock and unlock said seat back to said seat base in
said plurality of angular positions; a stop element arranged on
said outside of said base side panel, said stop element being
connected to said handle and engaging with said locking fixture to
limit rotation of said handle relative to said locking fixture,
said stop element being arranged radially inside said return
spring.
2. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said stop
element has a larger diameter portion and smaller diameter portion,
said larger diameter portion being arranged adjacent said locking
fixture, said smaller diameter portion being arranged radially
inside said return spring, said smaller diameter portion being
further from said locking fixture than said larger diameter
portion.
3. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said locking
fixture defines a running area axially spaced from said return
spring; said stop element includes a lug arranged in said running
area, said lug contacting an end of said running area to limit
rotation of said handle relative to said locking fixture, said lug
being arranged on said larger diameter portion of said stop
element, said lug being arranged axially between said locking
fixture and said return spring.
4. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said larger
diameter portion of said stop element is formed of a first
material, said smaller diameter portion of said stop element is
formed of a second material, said first material having a higher
material strength than said second material.
5. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said first
material is a metal, and said second material is a plastic.
6. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said second
material is less dense than said first material.
7. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said seat
base has two of said base side panels on diametrically opposite
sides of said seat base, said seat back has two of said seat back
side panels on diametrically opposite sides of said seat back, said
seat back side panels each having one end arranged inward of said
base side panels.
8. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a
cross shaft connecting said handle to said locking fixture, said
cross shaft including a radial projection extending radially
outward; said stop element being arranged around said cross shaft
between said locking fixture and said radial projection, said
radial projection blocking axial movement of said cross shaft
relative to said stop element; a push nut arranged around said
cross shaft between said handle and said radial projection, said
radial projection blocking axial movement of said push nut relative
to said stop element, said push nut including fingers, said fingers
and said stop element being arranged to have said fingers rigidly
connect said push nut to said stop element.
9. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 8, wherein: said fingers
of said push nut extend radially outward; said stop element
includes an extension extending axially beyond said radial
projection of said cross shaft, said fingers engage with said
extension of said stop element.
10. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 9, wherein: said
fingers interfere and bite into said extension of said stop
element; said cross shaft has a diameter, said radial projection
extending beyond said diameter of said cross shaft; said push nut
defines an opening around said cross shaft, said opening being
larger than said diameter of said cross shaft but smaller than a
diameter of said radial projection.
11. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
a cross shaft connecting said handle to said locking fixture, said
cross shaft including a radial projection extending radially
outward; said stop element being arranged around said cross shaft
between said locking fixture and said radial projection, said
radial projection blocking axial movement of said cross shaft
relative to said stop element; a spring clip arranged around said
cross shaft on a side of said radial projection diametrically
opposite said stop element, said radial projection blocking axial
movement of said spring clip relative to said stop element, said
spring clip having fingers with prongs that pass through said stop
element, said fingers latch into recesses of said stop element to
fix said spring clip to said stop element.
12. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said stop
element is axially fixed to said locking fixture; a cross shaft
passes through said locking fixture and said stop element, said
cross shaft including a radial projection extending radially
outward and arranged between said stop element and said locking
fixture, said radial projection having a size to not pass through
said locking fixture and said stop element.
13. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
a driver ring connected to said locking fixture, said stop element
snapping into said driver ring to actually fix said stop element to
said locking fixture.
14. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat base with a base side panel;
a seat back with a seat back side panel; a locking fixture
pivotally connecting said seat back to said seat base, said locking
fixture selectively locking said seat back to said seat base in a
plurality of angular positions; a return spring connected to said
seat base and said seat back and biasing said seat back in an
angular direction with respect to said seat base, said return
spring being a coil spring and being arranged on an outside said
base side panel; a handle arranged outward of said return spring
and connected to said locking fixture, said handle forming an
operator interface for an operator to operate said locking fixture
and selectively lock and unlock said seat back to said seat base in
said plurality of angular positions; a stop element arranged on
said outside of said base side panel, said stop element being
connected to said handle and engaging with said locking fixture to
limit rotation of said handle relative to said locking fixture,
said stop element being arranged radially inside said return
spring, said stop element having a larger diameter portion and
smaller diameter portion, said larger diameter portion being
arranged adjacent said locking fixture, said smaller diameter
portion being arranged radially inside said return spring, said
larger diameter portion of said stop element being formed of a
first material, said smaller diameter portion of said stop element
being formed of a second material, said first material having a
higher material strength than said second material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an assembly that allows a seat
back to pivot with respect to a seat base, and in particular to the
elements that selectively angularly lock, release and bias the seat
back with respect to the seat base.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a vehicle, a person's sitting position is very important,
especially for the driver of the vehicle. People who travel in
vehicles are confined to a small space, and are often in this space
for extended periods of time. In order to provide the occupant with
a better experience, it is desired to make the seat comfortable.
One way of doing this, is to have the seat back lock into a
plurality of angular positions with respect to the seat base, so
that the occupant of the seat can adjust the seat back into a
position that is most comfortable for the occupant.
Making the seat back of a vehicle seat selectively lockable into a
plurality of angular positions involves meeting several safety
requirements, especially with regard to behavior of the seat back
during a vehicle crash. This is often accomplished by making the
elements of the seat strong, which often causes the elements to be
large and heavy. Alternately, it is desirable to make the assembly
that reclines the vehicle seat small and lightweight so that there
is more room in the vehicle for the occupant, and that the vehicle
performs better, especially with regard to fuel consumption. It is
also desirable to make the recliner assembly reliable so that the
elements are not damaged by an occupant applying excessive force.
Increasing reliability, also tends to make the elements of the
assembly large and heavy, which is counter to providing more room
for the occupant and increasing performance of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a seat for a vehicle, where the seat has a
seat base with base side panels, and a seat back with seat back
side panels. The seat back side panels each have one end arranged
inward of the base side panels. A locking fixture pivotally
connects the seat back to the seat base. The locking fixture
selectively locks the seat back to the seat base in a plurality of
angular positions. A return spring is connected to the seat base
and the seat back, and biases the seat back in an angular direction
with respect to the seat base. In particular, the return spring
biases the seat back into the upright position, and counteracts the
weight of the seat back. The return spring preferably is a coil
spring and is arranged on an outside of at least one of the base
side panels. Outside being with respect to a center of the
seat.
A handle is arranged outward of the return spring and is connected
to said locking fixture. The handle forms an operator interface for
an operator to operate the locking fixture, and selectively lock
and unlock the seat back to the seat base in the plurality of
angular positions. The handle can be connected to the locking
fixture by a cross shaft that extends through the return spring.
When the operator rotates the handle, the handle causes the cross
shaft to rotate, which rotates a portion of the locking fixture,
allowing the operator/seat occupant to selectively raise and lower
the seat back.
One of the problems of locking fixtures, is that they can be
damaged by the operator applying excessive force to the locking
fixture, above and beyond what is needed to properly operate the
locking fixture. The present invention uses a stop element to
prevent an operator from applying too much force to the locking
fixture. Excess force on the locking fixture may prevent complete
locking of the seat back with regard to the seat base, and the
occupant may not be aware of this reduced performance condition.
The stop element can limit rotation of the handle in either
rotational direction, i.e. the rotational direction to unlock the
seat back, or the rotational direction to lock the seat back.
The stop element is arranged, preferably on the outside, of the at
least one of the base side panels. The stop element is connected to
the handle in a rotationally fixed manner, preferably through the
cross shaft, and engages with another portion of the locking
fixture to limit rotation of the handle relative to the locking
fixture. The stop element is arranged radially inside the return
spring.
Some of the goals of a vehicle are to transport the occupants
safely, efficiently, reliably, inexpensively and comfortably. By
making a seat assembly with small components, there is more room
for the occupant, and for structure that comfortably supports the
occupant. Also, small components can reduce the overall size and
weight of the vehicle which increases its efficiency. By making a
seat assembly with light components, fuel efficiency is also
increased. Increasing the strength of the seat components,
increases safety and reliability. However, increasing strength
usually requires increasing the size and weight of the components,
which counteracts the efficiency and comfort. The present invention
is a combination of seat components which reduces the size and
weight of the seat components for efficiency and comfort, while
still maintaining strength for safety and reliability.
The locking fixture of the present invention is made smaller, and
more lightweight, but maintains sufficient strength in order to
avoid the problem of damage occurring from excess force. This also
increases occupant safety by reducing damage potential.
The present invention further accomplishes a reduction in weight
and size, while maintaining or increasing reliability, by having
the return spring arranged externally, or on the outside, of the
side panels of the seat base and seat back. The stop element has a
larger diameter portion which interfaces with portion of the
locking fixture, and has a smaller diameter which is arranged
radially inside the return coil spring. The larger diameter has
lugs which contact the locking fixture. The larger diameter allows
the rotational force or torque to be spread over a larger area, and
therefore increase the strength of the stop element. The smaller
diameter portion of the stop element reduces the size and weight of
the stop element, and allows the stop element to fit inside the
return coil spring. This smaller diameter portion thus also allows
the return coil spring to be arranged on the outside of the side
panels in conjunction and axially colocated with the stop element.
This further reduces the space of the assembly that allows for
raising and reclining the seat back.
The stop element can be formed in two separate pieces, and of
different materials, to reduce weight and maintain or increase
strength. To keep costs low the stop element can be formed in one
piece, especially when formed of one material, but the strength may
be less, or the weight more.
To increase the strength further, while keeping the weight low, the
larger diameter portion can be formed of from high strength
materials such as metal, while the smaller diameter portion can be
formed of a less dense material such as plastic. To further
increase strength, while lowering weight, only a section of the
larger diameter portion is formed of high-strength material, while
the rest of the larger diameter portion is formed of the less dense
material such as plastic. In this embodiment, the larger diameter
portion has lugs which interact with the locking fixture, and these
lugs are formed of the high strength material. Another side of the
high-strength material has an interface to the other section of the
larger diameter portion which spreads out the load, and allows the
use of a lower strength, less dense material. The strength of the
stop element is significant, especially with regard to reliability,
since occupants can often apply much more force than is necessary
to the handle to raise and lower the seat back. Also, occupants
often inadvertently apply excess force to the handle by stepping or
standing on the seat.
Locking fixtures which selectively angularly lock and release a
seat back with respect to a seat base are known for example from
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/045,883, U.S. Pat. No.
6,991,295, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,330 which are incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects
attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of
the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of a vehicle with a vehicle seat;
FIG. 2 is a view of a vehicle seat;
FIG. 3 is a view of an assembly pivotally connecting the seat back
to the seat base;
FIG. 4 is a view of a stop element in contact with a return
spring;
FIG. 5 is a view of a first embodiment of a stop element;
FIG. 6 is a view of second embodiment of a stop element arranged
with a return spring;
FIG. 7 is a view of a second embodiment of a stop element;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the connection between a seat
back and a seat base;
FIG. 9 is a view of the stop element;
FIG. 10 is a view of the stop element interacting with the locking
fixture;
FIG. 11 is another view of the stop element interacting with the
locking fixture;
FIG. 12 is a view of third embodiment of a stop element arranged
with a clip;
FIG. 13 is a view of the cross shaft;
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the locking fixture, the stop
element and the handle;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the pushnut being mounted on the
cross shaft;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the connection between the stop
element and the cross tube of FIG. 11;
FIG. 17 is a view of an embodiment where the larger diameter
portion and the smaller diameter portion of the stop element is
formed together, and the larger diameter portion has a separate
portion made of a different material;
FIG. 18 is a view of the cross shaft being connected to the stop
element by a spring clip;
FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of the radial projections being
held between the locking fixture and the stop element;
FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of the radial projections being
held between the locking fixture and the stop element, similar to
FIG. 19, but at different circumferential angle;
FIG. 21 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 18;
FIG. 22 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 18;
FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view of the connection between a seat
back and a seat base using the embodiment of FIG. 18;
FIG. 24 is a perspective end view of the embodiment of FIG. 18;
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 18 mounted
on the cross shaft and a locking fixture; and
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the locking fixture and the cross
shaft, with particular pointing out the running areas.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in particular, FIG. 1 shows a motor
vehicle 10, also known as an automobile, with a seat 12. As one can
see, space inside the vehicle 10 is limited. FIG. 1 shows the seat
back 14 in the upright position. To increase the comfort of the
seat occupant, is often desirable to adjust the angular position of
the seat back 14 to a position that is more horizontal by leaning
the seat back 14 towards the rear of the vehicle 10.
Referring to FIG. 2, the seat 12 has a seat back 14 and a seat base
27. The seat 12 can be connected to the vehicle 10 by means of
tracks 36 and brackets 38. The seat base 27 has two base side
panels 16 arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the seat base
27. One of the base side panels 16 is shown in FIG. 3. The seat
back 14 has two seat back side panels 18 arranged on diametrically
opposite sides of the seat back 14. One of the seat back side
panels 18 is also shown in FIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment, an
end of the seat back side panels 18 is arranged inwardly of the
base side panels 16.
A locking fixture 28 pivotally connects the seat back 14 to the
seat base 27. The locking fixture 28 selectively locks and releases
the seat back 14 into and out of a plurality of angular positions
with respect to the seat base 27. Examples of the locking fixture
28 are described in the documents previously incorporated by
reference. A return spring 20 biases the seat back 14 in an angular
direction with respect to the seat base 27. In a preferred
embodiment, the return spring 20 biases the seat back 14 into an
upright position from a reclining position. This helps to
counteract the weight of the seat back 14 which would bias the seat
back into the reclined position.
A handle 22 is provided on the outside of the seat 12 to form an
operator interface for the operator or occupant of the seat to
selectively control the position of the seat back 14 with respect
to the seat base 27. The handle 22 rotates about, and preferably
with, a cross shaft 30. The cross shaft 30 extends into the locking
fixture 28. Rotation of the handle 22 causes the cross shaft 30 to
rotate, which then causes a portion of the locking fixture 28 to
rotate. Rotation of this portion of the locking fixture 28 in one
direction pivotally unlocks the seat back 14 with respect to the
seat base 27. Rotation of this portion of the locking fixture 28 in
the other direction pivotally locks the seat back 14 with respect
to the seat base 27.
Rotation of the handle 22 also causes a stop element to rotate.
Several different embodiments of the stop elements are shown in the
drawings by reference numbers 24, 26, 32 and 126. The basic stop
element is element 24 which will be primarily used for the initial
description. The features described for stop element 24 are also
applicable to stop element 26, 32 and 126. The stop element 24
rotates with the handle 22 preferably by a rotationally fixed
connection to cross shaft 30. The stop element 24 also engages with
a portion of the locking fixture 28 to limit rotation of the cross
shaft 30 and handle 22 with respect to the locking fixture 28. In
particular, this is done by the stop element 24 having lugs 34
which engage in running areas 36 of the locking fixture 28. The
running areas 36 having a greater circumferential extent than the
lugs 34, so that the lugs are rotationally movable in the running
areas 36 within a range, but not beyond that range.
FIGS. 10 and 11 provide enlarged examples of a running area 36. In
particular, when the lugs 34 hit the stops 37 at the end of the
running areas 36, rotation of the stop element 24 is stopped which
then stops rotation of the cross shaft 30 and handle 22 with
respect to the locking fixture 28.
As shown in FIG. 4, the stop element 24 has a portion arranged
radially inside the coil of the return spring 20 to save space, and
to further allow the return spring to be mounted on the outward
side of the seat base 27. The return spring 20, stop element 24 and
handle 22 are thus arranged on the outward side of the base side
panel 16. Depending on the size of the return spring 20, and the
stop element 24, there can be contact between the return spring 20
and the stop element 32 as shown in FIG. 4. This contact can limit
the effectiveness of the return spring 20. If a larger return
spring 20 is desired, such as to increase the biasing force, or to
use a less expensive, but larger, material for the return spring 20
or stop element 24, the stop element 24 can be made with a larger
diameter portion 24a/26a/126a, and a smaller diameter portion
24b/26b/126b. The larger diameter portion 24a, etc, has the lugs 34
which engage with the running areas 36 of the locking fixture 28.
The smaller diameter portion 24b fits inside the coil of the return
spring 20 and gives the return coil spring 20 more room to expand
and contract as the seat back 14 rotates between its extreme end
positions. This allows the return spring 20 to provide more biasing
force, and/or to be made of a less expensive material.
The larger diameter portion 24a allows the lugs 34 to withstand
greater rotational force or torque before breaking or shearing off,
and also to fit with existing locking fixtures 28. This
withstanding of great force is important because often the
operator/occupant of the seat will apply more force to the handle
22 than is necessary to operate the locking fixture 28. Fitting
with existing locking fixtures allows that the running areas of the
locking fixture do not need to be redesigned to allow a stop
element 24 that fits inside a return spring 20. The extra force
applied by the operator/occupant can be done accidentally such as
by the operator/occupant standing on the seat base 27, or by the
fact that when the operator/occupant is sitting in the seat 12, it
is very easy for the operator/occupant to apply a great deal of
force to the handle 22 just because the handle 22 is positioned in
a location convenient to applying excessive force. This especially
occurs if the seat back 14 can become temporarily stuck or jammed,
the operator may apply excess force thinking that this will free
the seat back 14. The combination of the large diameter portion 24a
and the smaller diameter portion 24b allow the stop element 24
resist breaking from excessive force, allows the use of existing
locking fixtures 28, and allows more room for the return spring 20
to operate. The whole arrangement of the return spring 20 and the
stop element 24 with two different diameters can then be arranged
on the outside of the base side panel 16 which allows more room
inside of the side panels 16/18 for structure which increases the
comfort of the occupant.
The stop element 24 can be made in one piece, and of one material,
to reduce costs. The material of the one piece stop element 24 can
be chosen to be of any particularly strong material to increase the
reliability and resistance to breakage during overload or over
force conditions. This usually involves choosing a material that
has a high density, or a high cost. Alternatively, the material of
one piece stop element can be chosen to be lightweight or
inexpensive in order to increase performance of the vehicle, or
reduce costs. This usually involves a material that gives a lesser
reliability and lesser resistance to breakage during overload or
over force conditions. In the one-piece design of the stop element
24, the material can preferably be either be metal or plastic.
In one embodiment, the stop element 26 can be made as a two-part
structure where the larger diameter portion 26a is constructed of a
material that is stronger than the material of the smaller diameter
portion 26b. The material of the larger diameter portion 26a has
greater strength (tensile, shear, compressive) and stiffness
(greater modulus of elasticity), then the smaller diameter portion
26b. The material of the smaller diameter portion 26b can be less
dense, or less expensive, than the material of the larger diameter
portion 26a. Preferably the larger diameter portion 26a is formed
of metal, such as steel or die cast zinc, and the smaller diameter
portion 26b is formed of plastic, or glass filled plastic. In the
two-part stop element 26, the larger diameter portion 26a and the
smaller diameter portion 26b can connect by prongs 38 fitting into
openings 40. In the alternative, the larger diameter 26a and the
smaller diameter 26b can be connected by fusing the two parts
together, such as by injection molding one part onto the other
part, or any other connection which provides a suitable joining. In
still a further alternative, the larger diameter 26a can be
connected to the smaller diameter 26b by another member, such as
clip 45 shown in FIG. 12. This more securely connects the two
portions 26a and 26b, which is especially beneficial for the
mechanism to withstand both overload conditions and side impact
conditions/crashes of the vehicle.
In another embodiment as especially shown in FIGS. 3 and 17, stop
element 126 can also be formed with the larger diameter portion
126a being formed of two different parts 71 and 72. One of the
parts 71 of the larger diameter portion 126a is formed of the same
material as the smaller diameter portion 126b, and another part 72
of the larger diameter portion 126b is formed of a material with a
greater strength, such as metal, and preferably steel, and shaped
by stamping or formed as a powder metal part, as shown in FIG. 3,
17-21. This part 72 includes the lug 34, and also an interface to
the other part 71. The interface between the parts 72 and 71 is
preferably arranged so that the rotational force, or torque, is
spread out so that the material of the part 71 can handle the force
without being damaged. The part 72 usually needs to be stronger
than the part 71, because existing locking fixtures 28 have running
areas 36 that limit how much the rotational force, or torque, can
be spread out.
The stop element 24 can also be held in contact with the locking
fixture 28 by the clip 45 which can connect the stop element 24 to
the locking fixture 28, and preferably to a driver ring 57. A push
nut 42, shown in FIG. 3 which attaches to the cross shaft 30 can be
arranged at the other end of the stop element 24 to position the
stop element 24. A handle spring 44 biases the handle 22 in the
direction where the locking fixture 28 locks the seat back 14 in a
fixed angular position with respect to the seat base 27.
A different internal push nut 49 can also be mounted on the cross
shaft 30 to coordinate with radial projections 47 which extend
radially outward from the cross shaft 30, as shown in FIGS. 13-15.
The stop element 24 is arranged around the cross shaft 30 between
the locking fixture 28 and the radial projections 47. The radial
projections 47 block an axial movement of the cross shaft 30
relative to the stop element 24, and of course vice versa. The
internal push nut 49 is also arranged around the cross shaft 30,
but on the diametrically opposite side of the radial projections 47
from the stop element 24, as shown in FIG. 14. The internal push
nut 49 has fingers 51 which are rigidly connected to an extension
55 of the stop element 24. The internal push nut 49 defines an
opening 53 which is larger than a diameter of the cross shaft 30,
but smaller than a diameter of the radial projections 47, so that
the radial projections 47 block an axial movement of the cross
shaft 30 with respect to the stop element 24, and the internal push
nut 49. In particular, the internal push nut 49 is shaped to slide
along a portion of the cross shaft 30, and then to have the fingers
engage with and bite into the extension 55 of the stop element 24.
In this way, lateral movement and the position of the cross shaft
is controlled by the radial projections 47 of the cross tube 30.
This eliminates a push nut resetting process and guarantees desired
handle 22 lateral positioning.
The stop element, preferably 126, can also be connected to the
driver ring 57 of the locking fixture 28 by a snap connection 59
having detents 61 and projections 63, as shown in FIGS. 18-20. In
FIG. 18, the right two cross-sectional views are shown at different
rotational angles. In particular the rightmost cross-sectional view
is shown through a plane that includes the snap connection 59 and
the lug 34. While the leftmost cross-sectional view is through
plane that does not show the snap connection 59 or the lug 34.
The projections 63 are arranged on the end of tabs 62. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 18-20, the stop element 126 is snapped or
latched into the driver ring 57, and then the cross shaft 30 is
slid into the stop element 24 and the locking fixture 28. A web 74
connects parts 71 with projections 63 as shown in FIG. 18. This is
not shown in FIG. 19 because of the particular plane of the
cross-section of this Figure. In the embodiment of FIG. 18, instead
of a push nut, a snap style spring clip 65 is slid over the cross
shaft 30 and the radial projections 47 are trapped between the snap
style spring clip 65 and the stop element 126. The snap style
spring clip 65 has fingers 67 which pass through the stop element
126, as shown in the cross-sectional views of FIG. 18. The fingers
67 each have at least one prong 69 which latch into recesses 70 of
the stop element 126 to connect the snap style spring clip 65 to
the stop element 126. This then traps the radial projections 47
between the snap style spring clip 65 and the stop element 126,
thus limiting the axial movement of the cross shaft 30 with respect
to the stop element 126 and locking fixture 28 in both axial
directions.
The radial projections 47 can also be arranged on the cross shaft
30 between the stop element 126 and the locking fixture 28 as shown
in FIGS. 19-20. FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views through
different planes. FIG. 19 is the cross-sectional view through the
plane that includes the radial projections 47, and FIG. 20 is the
cross-sectional view through the plane including the snap
connection 59. The radial projections 47 and the snap connection 59
being in different angular positions about the cross shaft 30.
The locking fixture 28 and the stop element 126 have internal
openings that allow the cross shaft 30 to pass, but do not allow
the radial projections 47 to pass through. Therefore the radial
projections 47 and the locking fixture 28 block the cross shaft 30
from moving in one axial direction, and the radial projections 47
and the stop element 126 block the cross shaft 30 from moving in
the opposite axial direction.
In the embodiment of FIG. 23, the stop element 126 is shown
connected to the locking fixture 28 by the snap connection 59. The
particular connection between the stop element 126 and the cross
shaft 30 is not specifically shown. However one can see from the
arrangement of the stop element 126, that radial projections could
be positioned between the stop element 126 and the locking fixture
28, or between a spring clip, similar to that in FIG. 18, and the
stop element 126, or even a push nut 42, 49 could be used.
FIG. 24 shows the stop element 126 in more detail. FIG. 25 shows
the stop element 126 mounted on the cross shaft 30 and interfacing
with the locking device 28. In particular the lug 34 being arranged
in the running areas 36 is shown. FIG. 26 shows in detail the
locking element 28 with the running areas 36 and the stop elements
71.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles
of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be
embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
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